French

Students who major in French at Saint Louis University develop competency in the language
while increasing their knowledge of the French-speaking world. You’ll be exposed to
a broad range of courses in French and French-speaking literature and culture as part
of a broader liberal arts education at SLU.

Major in French

If you choose to major in French at SLU, you will have the opportunity to learn about
centuries of Francophone literature and culture. You will examine France within the
context of postcolonial studies and gender studies. You'll also explore art, literature,
music, cinema and the environment.

Offered through the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, SLU's French major requires that you complete a senior inquiry project under the
guidance of a project director. For the senior inquiry project, you may choose between
completing an additional upper-level course in French or conducting a final research
project under the supervision of a faculty member.

You will be encouraged to enhance your major or minor through an immersion experience
in a French-speaking country. SLU students can choose from a variety of study abroad
options that complement the major, including programs in the cities of Lyon and Poitiers
in France.

SLU’s French faculty members have a broad range of specialties, including French language,
culture, literature, interdisciplinary studies and gender studies. We welcome the
opportunity to speak with students about studies and opportunities in French.

Spend a Year in France

Students studying French at SLU can spend a year in Lyon, France. This year-long,
full-immersion program allows students to experience the country and its culture firsthand.
You’ll take classes in the French university system with French students and other
international students. Courses not only fulfill requirements for French majors at
SLU, but students may also have an opportunity to complete some of their core requirements
while in Lyon.

Students studying French at SLU can also spend a semester or a year in Poitiers, France,
studying at the Université de Poitiers alongside other international students and
native French speakers. Courses taken as part of this full-immersion program may
count toward the student’s major or minor in French, study in other disciplines, or
the student’s core requirements.